GMA Network to roll out digital device next month

GMA Network Inc. is set to commercially roll out its digital transmission device as early as next month.

“Definitely, by next month,” GMA Chairman and CEO Felipe Gozon told reporters after the company’s annual stockholders’ meeting in Quezon City on Wednesday.

He was asked about the timeline for the commercial rollout of the digital device which would allow analog television sets to receive digital transmission.

Gozon first announced the device in May 2016.

It is now being manufactured in a factory in China.

GMA’s technology arm GMA New Media Inc. (NMI) unveiled the digital receiver prototype in October 2016.

With the commercial rollout scheduled next month, Gozon said the company targets to release at least a million units per year.

“Ang target niyan, one million initially. Let’s say, in one year, at least one million,” he said.

“Ang expectation namin, gagamitin ito dahil meron kami na wala ‘yung iba,” Gozon noted.

With a worldwide patent, Gozon said the device will be able to compete with products already in the market.

“Napakaraming features nito ... Kung ano ang ginagawa mo ngayon sa smartphone mo, pwedeng gawin. Pwede kang makipagusap, pwede mag-interact, pwede mag-record,” he said.

“Wala kaming mga dealers. So we have to find a way na hindi tayo mahuhuli ‘pag ni-launch na ‘yan and I can assure you, napakalapit na. Magpipirmahan nalang,” he said.

Gozon said GMA has also partnered with a telecommunications company for the project, but declined to disclose further details.

“Wala nang problema as far as I know. Pirmahan nalang,” he said.

“Biglaan ‘yan. Mas madali kaysa dadahan-dahanin mo. Kumbaga sa ulan, buhos,” he said, regarding the commercial launch. —VDS, GMA News